Te Aroha News

17 October 2007
Te Aroha Mountain Railway Society

Periodic Detention workers helping with restoration work on the Te Aroha Mountain Railway line.

Restoration work is on track at the Te Aroha Mountain Railway.

Volunteers are spending their weekends fixing the track and the station in attempt to bring it back to working condition.

“We are relaying 100 metres of the rail,” Te Aroha Mountain Railway Society committee member Gordon Fisher said. “We’re going to lift the track, level the contour of the surface and put the lines back down.”

The track was laid incorrectly the first time. “It was better to lift the whole thing up and do it all properly,” Gordon said. “It is a lot of work, it will probably take a few months.” The committee will get in a digger and grader to help level the surface. As this is a huge task any help will be appreciated. “We are always looking for helpers. We are just working on the weekends, all volunteers.”

The aim of the project is to get a Locker B engine train and restore the railway station. The train will run from Terminus Street to Bunnings on Ema Street. It will be an adventure line with different things along the way. A miniature railway will also be included.

Funds have been raised for the project from a number of different avenues, including The Railway Shop in Te Aroha. The New Zealand Railway Heritage Society granted $4000 to help with the restoration but $3000 is still needed to complete the project. The New Zealand Railway Society has put the job out to tender.

The committee would also like anyone who has any history on the station to please contact Robyn Mayo.

By Letitia Atkinson @ Piako Post